Two "Happy Hooligans" from the Fargo, ND based 119th Fighter Wing were the first over *New York* (My mistake...it was Washington DC) on 9/11.

They took off from Langley and were given (another first) permission to go supersonic over metropolitan areas, under FL400.

Two more F-16s from the Hooligan's took off from langley and provided extended coverage (well one more took off as one was already in the air, but needed to refuel). All four pilots flew over 16 hours non-stop and were mid-air refueled multiple times over the course of the day.

Those four pilots were at Langley for training as they were training to replace the current F-16 detachment from ND ANG, and normally would have been back in Fargo (the 119th only has 16 F-16's...12 that are currently flight ready)

"On the morning of September 11, 2001 F-16's from North Dakota ANG's Alert detachment at Langley AFB, VA were the first fighters in the air to defend the Nations Capital during the Terrorist attacks against America. After their arrival The "Hooligans" established a the first Combat Air Patrol (CAP) in a operation that would later be named Noble Eagle."

I will never forget seeing those Otis F-15s screaming over my head every few minutes over the streets of Manahttan. The second I saw them I decided it was safe to cross the bridges (rumors were rampant about possible targets) and advised my staff at the time about their presence as well. Being an aviation nut all my life experiencing numerous airshows, I never would have thought that I would ever see military aircraft flying overhead on a CAP sortie protecting me and all the people around me.

Amid all the chaos (actually more like uncertainty), I still felt a strong sense of pride after seeing them overhead.